Six birders attended the monthly First Saturday Bird Walk today at Boxerwood. While the sky was overcast for the entire time, the slowly rising temperature seemed to activate the birds as the morning progressed with many new species seen in the Children's Playground and near the Parking Area at the end of the Walk. Highlights included several less common (for this area) winter birds including a well viewed Black-Capped Chickadee, single shivering Catbird, and several Purple Finches. 

Boxerwood Gardens - MRR03, Rockbridge, US-VA
Feb 7, 2015 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Low 30's; overcast
27 species

Turkey Vulture  1
Mourning Dove  6
Red-bellied Woodpecker  4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  2
Downy Woodpecker  8
Northern Flicker  1
Pileated Woodpecker  3
Blue Jay  12
American Crow  8
Common Raven  1
Carolina Chickadee  11
Black-capped Chickadee  1     Single bird well observed. Distinctive white edges on secondaries as well as primaries; buffy flanks. Larger and chunkier than the many Carolina Chickadees observed in same area. Responded immediately to recorded BCCH call. Possible second bird calling but not observed.
Tufted Titmouse  10
White-breasted Nuthatch  6
Carolina Wren  6
Eastern Bluebird  3
American Robin  8
Gray Catbird  1
European Starling  21
Eastern Towhee  2
Song Sparrow  4
White-throated Sparrow  24
Dark-eyed Junco  4
Northern Cardinal  16
House Finch  10
Purple Finch  5
American Goldfinch  3

Twelve Rockbridge Bird Club members travelled to Highland County yesterday.  We were joined by leaders Pattie Reum and John Spahr in Monterey who led us to friendly and selected homes with bird feeders, and to high mountain passes.  Thank you to both of them for spending the day with us!  We had a great outing--- temps averaging mid 30’s, bright sunny day, a snowy landscape of white glaze and plentiful birds.Wendy’s list follows, and includes sightings en route to Highland.
Laura Neale

In order of sighting:

Great Blue Heron
Red-tailed Hawk -2
Canada Goose
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser
Wigeon
Mallard
Golden Eagle -2 immature
Bald Eagle - 1 adult & 1 immature
Eastern Bluebird
Blue Jay
Dark-eyed Junco
American Crow
Red-bellied Woodpecker
House Sparrow
European Starling
White-breasted Nuthatch
Common Raven
Northern Cardinal
Pine Siskin
Hairy Woodpecker
American Tree Sparrow
Downy Woodpecker
Tufted Titmouse
Mourning Dove
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch
Black-capped Chickadee
Song Sparrow
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Mockingbird
Carolina Wren
American Kestrel - 3
Rock Pigeon
House Finch
Northern Harrier - 1